British troops arrested in Basra

[SPN]

From the Xinhuanet website:

BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraqi police detained two British soldiers in civilian clothes in the southern city Basra for firing on a police station on Monday, police said.

"Two persons wearing Arab uniforms opened fire at a police station in Basra. A police patrol followed the attackers and captured them to discover they were two British soldiers," an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

The two soldiers were using a civilian car packed with explosives, the source said.

He added that the two were being interrogated in the police headquarters of Basra.

The British forces informed the Iraqi authorities that the two soldiers were performing an official duty, the source said. British military authorities said they could not confirm the incident but investigations were underway.

Very curious!

[JCSkinner]

Of course, you must always trust all Xinhuanet articles without seeking confirmation from other news sources. They are known the world over for the reliability of their information.

[SPN]

Of course, you must always trust all Xinhuanet articles without seeking confirmation from other news sources. They are known the world over for the reliability of their information.

You will note that I said the story was "curious".

Your response, to dismiss the story without doing further research is also very curious.

Here's CNN's take on the story:

The official said two unknown gunmen in full Arabic dress began firing on civilians in central Basra, wounding several, including a traffic police officer. There were no fatalities, the official said.

The two gunmen fled the scene but were captured and taken in for questioning, admitting they were British Marines carrying out a "special security task," the official said.

British troops launched the dramatic rescue about three hours after Iraqi authorities informed British commanders the men were being held at the police department's major crime unit, the official said.

I'm sure I can get something from Al Jazeera if you'd prefer.

[duff]

The official said two unknown gunmen in full Arabic dress began firing on civilians in central Basra, wounding several, including a traffic police officer. There were no fatalities, the official said.

Hmm this sounds familiar. Probably like the bombs the brits let off in a protestant pub on the Shankill road.(atleast I think that was where it was, correct me if Im wrong) and then a while after there was a gun attack on the same pub. The ruc chased the suspects, on apprehension it was discovered they were members of a shadowy British army unit.

[SPN]

Any of our Norn friends ever meet either of these dudes in a pub?

[Bogwarrior]

An Iraqi journalist was shot dead in Basra, ealier in the day, by unknown assailants. The Brits seemed quite nervous about these gunmen spilling the beans under interrogation, and went all out to release them. One things for sure, they were'nt bird-watching. Will the British authorities now charge the 2 for the killing of the puppet policeman, and wounding of the other prior to the arrest.

[Carrier]

What a shower of terrorist scumbags. Deliberately targeting civillians is as low as you can get, and the Brits have just shown themselves to be up to their knecks in it. Wonder how they'll justify their inevitable refusal to hand these criminals over to the Iraqi 'authorities'?

[SPN]

Remind me again:

What was the criteria for being considered an "enemy combatant"?

[ChrIreland]

An Iraqi journalist was shot dead in Basra, ealier in the day, by unknown assailants. The Brits seemed quite nervous about these gunmen spilling the beans under interrogation, and went all out to release them. One things for sure, they were'nt bird-watching. Will the British authorities now charge the 2 for the killing of the puppet policeman, and wounding of the other prior to the arrest.

Don't hold your breath. What's the bet that a deal will be made with the Iraqi government?

[Bogwarrior]

Lets just hope the situation doesn't deterioate. There's a very real danger this could get even worse, with growing fears of several more Andy Mc Nabb style novels proliferating into the world of literature.